Vasoactive substances and long-term control of blood pressure and hypertension
Takahashi, H.
Rinsho Byori. Japanese Journal of Clinical Pathology 45(9): 813-821
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 0047-1860 PMID: 9311253 Document Number: 472915
Mechanisms of essential hypertension have been thought to be implicated with a number of genetic abnormalities. Those genes are closely related with vasoactive substances. On the other hand, roles of the kidney on pathogenesis of hypertension have been well recognized. Vasoactive substances and autonomic nerves influence on the renal function, particularly natriuresis. The autonomic nervous system buffers blood pressure variation caused by the vasoactive substances. But those changes in blood pressure do not usually continue for more than a day. Some other mechanisms to keep blood pressure at the higher level are necessary to maintain hypertension, which could be the resetting of baroreceptor reflex by the central nervous system. That means that vasoactive substances may act on the central nervous system. In fact, we found that almost all vasoactive substances affect central nervous system to change sympathetic nervous system activity. I reviewed the mechanism to control the long-term blood pressure level by vasoactive substances, which is related to the central nervous system.